September 21 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

September 21, 2012

Review of our week:

         We are almost finished with our alphabet review. We are doing something this year called Daily 5.  It is a lot like centers, but a little different.  We have been learning how to do Read to Self, Read to Someone, Listening, Writing and Word Work. I introduced syllables and practiced clapping the syllables in our names and other words.  This would be something that you could work on at home.  In math we have been finishing up on patterns, we have also been working on number sense and counting patterns.

Book Order:

         I am sending home the October book orders.  If you would like to order books they need to be turned in by Thursday, September 27.  I know it is kind of early, but I want to get them ordered before SEP’s. I usually do one every month. Remember, you can also order online.  There is a new code for our class.  It is L9GWX.  If it doesn’t work, let me know.

        

Homework:

         Reading records are due every Friday. I have some really fun prizes for those students who reach the reading goal.  The reading goal is at least 5 nights every week.  Even if every apple is not filled in please have your child turn in what they have done.  I am getting a lot of reading records that do not have the parent’s signature.  Please make sure you sign your child’s reading record.  It is very important your child is doing their reading homework.  I am sending home a homework paper about your neighborhood and community. They are due back by Friday.

         We are learning about rocks.  I need your child to go on a rock hunt and bring in a rock next week.  It has to fit in their hand, but big enough that we can take a good picture of it.  It can be any kind of rock they would like.

        

SEP’s:

         I am sending home a paper that tells you when your SEP is.  I need you to sign it and mark if you can make your appointment or not.  If you can’t make it please let me know as soon as possible, so I can reschedule it.  We coordinated with other teachers, so please try to make your appointment.  Remember school gets out everyday at 2:30, even on Wednesday.

Reading Parents:

         We started reading this week.  If you didn’t make it, we would love to see you next week.  If there is anybody else who would like to come in and read we would love to have you, or if there is a grandparent who would like to come in we would love to have them as well.

Spirit Fridays:

         The PTA is starting Spirit Fridays.  They would like everybody to wear their school shirts on Fridays.  It can either be an old one or they are ordering new ones.  I am sending home the paper for shirts.  They will be doing prizes for those students who are wearing them.

  

F.Y.I’s

*I just wanted to remind you that Library is on Tuesday.  I have some students who have not brought their books back.  I would really like them to get new books every week.

*As it starts to get cold please make sure your child is coming with a jacket.  We will still be going out for recess when it starts to get cold.

Upcoming Events:

·      September 23-29 – Turn off the TV Week

·      Monday, September 24 – Celebrate Tristan’s Birthday

·      Monday, September 24 – Fluoride Begins in the gym

·      Friday, September 28 – Family Fun Day

·      October 1-5 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30)

·      Friday, October 12 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, October 15 – Picture Retakes

·      Wednesday, October 17 – End of 1^st Quarter

·      October 18-19 – No School (Fall Recess)

·      Monday, October 22 – No School (Harvest Recess)

·      Tuesday, October 30 – Celebrate Parker’s Birthday

·      Wednesday, October 31 – Halloween Party

·      Friday, November 2 – Celebrate Olivia’s Birthday

        

September 14 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

September 14, 2012

Review of our week:

         We are almost finished with our alphabet review.  Each day we interview the leader and I am really seeing some improvement in our writing.  We have also been working on sentence structure.  In math we are still working on patterns, graphs and number concepts.  Encourage your child to pick out patterns in things they see at home. 

Homework:

         You and your child still need to be reading for 20 minutes every night. We will start the Take Home Library on Monday.  These books are on your child’s reading level, they should be reading them to you.  They may seem easy and that is because they are or they should be.  They are one level lower than where I have them instructionally.   I would like your child to read the book 3 or 4 times.  After they have read the book have them tell you what happened in the book and ask them some questions about the book for comprehension.  I did the assessments over the last couple of weeks.  By the time we start in our guided reading groups, some of them will be ready to move up.  If your child is on a higher reading level, they won’t move through the levels as fast.

         Remember their reading record is due back by the day listed.  Even if your child does not fill in every apple I really want them to turn in what they did.  They can only fill in one apple every day.  I try to explain to them the importance of being honest when they fill in their apples.  Please help them keep track of their reading record.  I would like you to help your child to find a place to keep their reading record, where it won’t get lost or ruined.

         I sent home a sheet of homework.  In math we have been working on patterns.  They need to find 2 patterns around the house, copy them and write a sentence about the pattern. It is due back by next Friday.   

Reading Volunteers: 

         I would like to start this next week.  Each child has a poetry notebook with poems we have been learning.  I am just going to have them read the poems until we start Guided Reading.  If you would like to come in and volunteer just let me know. If there is a grandparent who would like to come in we would love to have them, or some dads.  I understand there will be times when you are unable to make it and that is ok. I still could use another person on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

T-Day-

         Tuesday is “T” Day, please have your child wear their favorite T-shirt to school this day. 

Reminders & FYI:

         * Please make sure your child is here on time.  We cover a                           lot of very important math concepts in our opening.

      * Remember to keep saving your Box Tops.   

         * Remember Library books on Tuesday.

* Don’t forget to link your Smith’s Card to our school.  Ask grandparents and neighbors to do it also.  The school really makes a lot of money with this.

Leaders for next week:

September 17    -S- Santana DeHerrera 

September 18    -T- Tyler Petersen

September 19    -U- Jonas Bryan

September 20   -V- Amanda Brown

September 21    -W- Eliza Lambert (Celebrate Eliza’s Birthday)

        

Family Fun Day:

         I have posted a copy of the paper on Family Fun Day.  Usually they will be on Fridays, but if that does not work let me know and we can set up another day.  I am going to try and do one in the next couple of weeks with my family. I have dates listed in the upcoming events.  If there is one of those dates you would like, let me know.  If you have any questions please let me know.

Upcoming Events:

·      Monday, September 17 – Vision Screening

·      Friday, September 21 – Celebrate Eliza’s Birthday

·      September 23-29 – Turn off the TV Week

·      Monday, September 24 – Celebrate Tristan’s Birthday

·      Monday, September 24 – Fluoride Begins in the gym

·      Friday, September 28 – Family Fun Day

·      October 1-5 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30)

·      Friday, October 12 – Family Fun Day

·      Monday, October 15 – Picture Retakes

·      Wednesday, October 17 – End of 1^st Quarter

·      October 18-19 – No School (Fall Recess)

·      Monday, October 22 – No School (Harvest Recess)

·      Tuesday, October 30 – Celebrate Parker’s Birthday

·      Wednesday, October 31 – Halloween Party

·      Friday, November 2 – Celebrate Olivia’s Birthday

The things in bold are new events.

        

September 7 Newsletter

Mrs. Bali’s First Grade News

September 7, 2012

Review of our week:

         We are still working on our alphabet review.  Each day we do a handwriting page, we learn a new poem for each letter.  We interview our leader and each child then writes something about the leader and draws a picture.  When we finish each student will have a book they have made with a page about each person in our class.  I am very excited to see how much each child has improved in their writing.  In math we have been working on graphing and patterns and numbers. 

Next Week’s Leaders:

         September 10    -O- Olivia Price

September 11     -P- Parker Johnson

September 12    -Q- Rachel Blodgett

September 13    -R- Evan Scott (Celebrate Evan’s Birthday)

September 14    - Field Trip

*When your child is the leader please send a healthy snack for the class.  If you can’t provide a snack please let me know, so I can get something. 

Homework:

         Your child should be doing reading every night.  I know some of you are reading the full 20 to your child and that is ok.  Next week we will be starting our Take Home Library.  Your child will be getting a book they can read on their own. They will earn money for every night they are doing their reading homework, to spend in our classroom store.  I am sending home the new reading record today.

         We read the book Chrysanthemum and I have sent home a worksheet for your child to do for homework.  It is due back by Friday, September 14.

Field Trip:

         We are going on our Field Trip next Friday, September 14.  Your child will need to eat school lunch.  If your child usually eats home lunch you will need to pay the office for their lunch.  We never know what the weather will be like so please make sure your child brings a jacket, and is wearing pants and good shoes to hike in.  No sandals, shorts or skirts.

Reading Parents:

         I would like to start having parents come in and read with the class in 2 weeks.  I would like at least 2 parents each day.  They can be moms, dads or grandparents.   I have included a list of the parents who have signed up.  If you can and would like to come in and read with us, we would love to have you.  Let me know if there is a day that would work for you.

Upcoming Events:

·      Monday, September 10 – Fall Pictures

·      Monday, September 10 – Back To School Bash

·      Thursday, September 13 – Celebrate Evan’s Birthday

·      Friday, September 14 – Field Trip to Cedar Breaks

·      Monday, September 17 – Vision Screening

·      Friday, September 21 – Celebrate Eliza’s Birthday

·      September 23-29 – Turn off the TV Week

·      Monday, September 24 – Celebrate Tristan’s Birthday

·      October 1-5 – SEP Week (School gets out at 2:30)

Reading Volunteers

8:45-9:30

Monday – Tiffany Hall

Tuesday – Michelle Lambert

Wednesday – Brittnie Larson

Thursday – Julie Brown

Friday – Hannah Price, Lisa Blodgett

Take Home Books – Lisa Blodgett